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Streamer Jake and a companion race to a rafting park outside Guiyang and get through the gate just before closing. On the way they pick up cheap shoes, shorts, a bag and a hat, then change, store their own shoes and set off as the last boat of the day. The inflatable boat has holes in the bottom, so they bail water after rapid after rapid, pass signs warning of the most dangerous part and see lifeguards posted after the scary drops. They stop at the first of ten rest areas, slide through a concrete tube into a tunnel, drink hot tea on the river and find the electronics bag wet despite three layers of wrapping. Further down they meet locals drinking beer with ducks nearby and an uncle swimming in the river. At the landing vendors sell towels and dry clothes, and a stall makes a wood-fired margherita pizza for $4. With no shuttle cars left at 7:00 p.m., they bargain for a ride back to their car.
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The video opens in a rush. Jake and his companion, who translates off camera, pull up at the park with only minutes to spare, and Jake admits he has never been rafting.
Tickets, gear and the closing time
On the way they bought two pairs of shoes, two pairs of shorts, a bag and a hat for about $11 to $12, with no time to bargain. At the counter Jake could not buy a ticket as a foreigner, but his companion had already bought one online. Staff said the park closes at 5:00 and asked visitors to arrive before 4:30, while another worker said coming in before 5:00 was fine. They made it with about a minute left.
Storage and bathrooms are inside, and there is a changing room at the back. They put their own shoes in storage. The shoes they were given had coffee stains inside. The pair point out that rafting usually lasts about 20 to 30 minutes, so 2 hours is unusual. They also stress that these are whitewater rapids, not a lazy river, and that the water is cold. Because they were the last boat of the day, two lifeguards followed behind them.
Bailing water through the rapids
The inflatable boat has holes in the bottom. Water keeps coming in, so they keep bailing, and they almost capsize early on. Signs along the bank say a section is really crazy and to be careful, and later that the most dangerous part is coming. Jake calls keeping your mouth closed when you get splashed the key. Lifeguards sit on chairs right after the scary drops, probably because people flip there a lot, and the staff behind the last boats make sure everyone gets through.
Jake's streaming gear rides in a bag wrapped three times. Water still gets in.
Rest stops, a tunnel and tea on the boat
The first rest area has a bathroom and food, and it is one of 10 stops along the river where you can get off and rest. After it they switch to sitting tandem and slide through a concrete tube into a tunnel, which they later call the wildest part. Jake gets cold, jokes about hypothermia and wishes he had worn long pants. The rest stops let you stop and eat, and they take hot tea back onto the boat and spill some of it. With about 40 minutes still to go, they realize they have no towel.
Whitewater rafting near Guiyang with the locals
The lower river gets social. Food stations line the banks, ducks and geese swim past, and a group by the water invites them to drink alcohol. An uncle swims and showers in the river. One local tells them there is an even crazier rafting route out here.
Dry clothes and wood-fired pizza at the landing
At the end they dock, and vendors sell towels and dry clothes. Sizes run small: a 5 XL T-shirt is about an American medium. The vendors haggle between 23 and 20 RMB, and someone says they only open in summer. A stall bakes pizza in an oven with gas on one side and coal and wood on the other. Jake's margherita costs $4 and has chewy dough with a crisp base.
Getting back to the car
By 7:00 p.m. there were no more cars going back to the start, and they realized they could have parked at the bottom. Motorcycle riders offered rides, but a quote of 60 felt like a scam for a 4.9 km trip. In the end they took a car for 30 RMB back to their own car under the moon. Jake's gear was a little damp but still worked.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: How long is the rafting ride near Guiyang?
- A: It takes about 2 hours. The creators say a normal rafting trip is usually around 20 to 30 minutes.
- Q: What time does the rafting park close?
- A: Staff said the park closes at 5:00 and told them to arrive before 4:30, although another worker said you can still come in before 5:00.
- Q: Can foreigners buy rafting tickets at the gate?
- A: Jake could not buy one at the counter as a foreigner. His companion had already bought a ticket online.
- Q: Are there rest stops along the river?
- A: Yes. The first rest area had a bathroom and food, and it is one of 10 stops where you can get off, rest, eat or have hot tea.
- Q: Is the rafting dangerous?
- A: These are real whitewater rapids, not a lazy river. Signs warn of the most dangerous part, lifeguards sit after the scary sections, and staff follow the last boats.
- Q: Will you get wet and cold?
- A: Yes. The boat has holes in the bottom, water splashes in all the time and the river is cold, so long pants and a towel help.
- Q: How do you get back to the start after rafting?
- A: Cars run back to the start, but by 7:00 p.m. there were none left. After a quote of 60 seemed like a scam, they took a car for 30 RMB.
- Q: Is there food at the end of the route?
- A: Yes. A stall bakes wood-fired pizza, and Jake's margherita cost $4, with chewy dough and a crisp base.
- Q: Is the rafting park open all year?
- A: A local at the landing said they only open during summer time, though it was not clear whether that meant the park or the vendors.
